Are you a renter who can’t pay your full rent due to COVID-19 related loss of income? Are you a property owner with a tenant who can’t pay their rent? A homeowner who can't make your mortgage payment? The Office of Housing, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and the State may have programs and services that can help.

• Resources for Renters 
• Resources for Landlords  
• Resources for Homeowners
• Eviction Prevention Task Force 
• Alexandria Eviction Trends

Help with Rent Payments Based on Limited Funding Sources 

• OCS Rental Assistance Program
  The Office of Community Services (OCS) at City of Alexandria’s The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides some rental assistance to eligible, low-income households facing a housing crisis or homelessness. To request OCS services, call the DCHS Customer Call Center at 703.746.5700 or text 703.346.5599 for an assessment

• Alexandria Eviction Prevention Partnership
  If you prefer not to talk to a City employee, the  Alexandria Eviction Prevention Partnership have staff that can help. Call 571.351.3272 or email volunteerAEPP@alive-inc.org. Español disponible. 
• If you are experiencing other landlord-tenant issues, please call the Office of Housing at 703.746.4990.

Apply on Behalf of Tenants for Past-due Rent Payments

• Contact the Office of Housing at 703.746.4990 to learn more about available programs. Funding is limited. 

• View or download the Eviction Prevention and Housing Stability Toolkit, including a 'What Landlords Can Do' section, on the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance website
• Get information on the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Fair Housing Law Training, Complaint Mediation services and other resources.

Help with Mortgage Payments

• For mortgage relief in response to financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, please call the State of Virginia's Mortgage Relief Program at 833.687.8677 or apply online here. 
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau compiled a useful guide to coronavirus mortgage relief options. 
• Find resources at FHA Resource Center at 1-800-Call-FHA and review Frequently Asked Questions. Persons with hearing or speech impairments should use Federal Relay Service at 1.800.877.8339. 
• Foreclosure housing counselors work closely with struggling homeowners to understand their financial situation and to help them identify their best long-term solution. Locate a HUD-approved housing counseling service. 
• Condominium owners and homeowners association members are encouraged to contact their communities' management if they have questions about condominium and HOA fees.
• For additional information or general questions, email vicente.espinoza@alexandriava.gov at the Office of Housing or call 703.746.3087. 

Additional Resources

• The Eviction Process in Virginia
• Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority- Contact ARHA with questions about its communities and the Housing Choice Voucher program.
• Contact Virginia Legal Aid to learn about foreclosure prevention resources. 
• Learn about homeowner rights at the National Housing Law Project.  

The Eviction Prevention Task Force is a multi-agency partnership composed of representatives from the Department of Community and Human Services, Office of Housing, Sheriff’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Christ Church, and Emergency Financial Providers. The group is collecting and sharing data and working to understand the local eviction landscape, identifying and resolving gaps in eviction prevention services, and engaging stakeholders to address the crisis.

The goals of the Task Force include reducing the number of evictions in Alexandria, diminishing the impact of eviction on residents and developing and implementing  a long-term eviction prevention strategy that addresses the needs of residents and property owners.

According to the Aspen Institute, the housing crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has sharply increased the risk of long-term harm to renter families and individuals, disruptions of the affordable housing market and the risk of foreclosure and bankruptcy, especially among small property owners.

Following eviction, a person’s likelihood of experiencing homelessness increases, mental and physical health are diminished and the probability of obtaining employment declines. Eviction is also linked with respiratory disease, which could increase the risk of complications if COVID-19 is contracted. Instability, like eviction, is particularly damaging to children, who suffer in ways that impact their educational development and well-being.

How You Can Help

The Task Force welcomes community input, cooperation and participation in ongoing projects and initiatives, including outreach to at-risk households and identifying renters in need of assistance. The group is also seeking input from and collaboration with owners of rental properties. For more information or to get involved, email evictionprevention@alexandriava.gov.

DATA SOURCE 

Alexandria, VA Eviction Trends 

QUESTIONS?

To reach the Office of Housing with questions about landlord-tenant issues or to learn more about available services, please call 703.746.4990.